Moving from Australia to Dubai ?

Great reply AmyAus, also remember to bring about 20 passport photos, as most CVs require them and you seem to need them for just about everything else here!

Hats off to you AmyAus82, you outlined everything perfectly. Too right. Wish I'd had this info when I first came here

Hats off to you AmyAus82, you outlined everything perfectly.

Excellent post AmyAus82!

Lil Bubbles, plenty of short-a$$es at Emirates, :) so long as you can reach a height of 214cm on a wall you're all good, no matter how tall you are... nice policy whereas other airlines rule on overall height which isn't great as some shorter people have a long arm reach and can still reach very high up...

Emily, do you have anyone you can stay with for a few weeks? That would be a huge help...my company moved us, paid for everything, provided a relocation agent and it was still a bewildering experience!! I think the Emirates idea is a a brilliant one; I always wanted to be a stewardess although I expect it's not quite as glamourous as I thought it was in my youth!! Best of luck!

Also, just another thing to be aware of - until you get your residence visa, you're more or less unable to blow your nose here in Dubai. You won't be able to buy a car, won't be able to connect utilities (rules out renting a place, and short term accom is a rip off here), you wont be able to get a bank account, you wont have access to mail. When it comes time to rent a place, most of the time you're required to pay a few months to a year in advance. SemiSaudi - you sound to have been quite fortunate. I would not say this is the most common scenario though - especially since the recession. It's just important to come prepared - with a return flight, with plenty of money in the meantime with the possibility that it could be many months before something eventuates. Don't come here just hoping you will be lucky enough to land a job right away. And I wouldnt say it is the norm that an admin job will have you paying rent here and paying off a house in Australia, unfortunately.

SemiSaudi - May I ask what you do for work in Dubai? And to answer your question, Yes my parents were born in Australia are Australian. I am very much 'Aussie' :) I used to work as admin and worked by butt off to the point my boss couldn't manage without me so i threatened to quit, he promoted me to GM and doubled my salary :) I came here without a job and had one within 10 days but that was in 2008 when the market was much better. I could make a much better salary than i am now if it wasn't for how i dressed (am muslim and cover my face). Who would have thought that would be an issue in a muslim country :\: I say go for it. Unless you've got a lot to lose back home, why not? I had a house with mortgage and until today im still sending my mortgage money home every month. If i had stayed at home, i would have lost my house by now due to my office closing and the economy collapsing! :)

Dear Emily, It's so great you want an adventure and to move here but you really do have to be careful- it is not the sort of place you can just rock up on your own and hope for the best- the advice the other ladies have given is great. I think the Emirates crew idea is a brilliant one- they will bring you over properly and look after you and you won't have any of the worries of finding accom, spending months looking for a job, running out of money etc. etc. You would learn new skills that will set you up for life and give you a great experience. HTH

Lol, so many Aussies in Emirates I'm not kidding I think (on the air crew side of things) the biggest four nationalities are Indian, Filipinos, Aussie and British. Well, when I started anyway. But if you have what they're looking for, they will hire you. Yes you are sometimes a 'waitress n the sky' but you are also so much more and the job can be very rewarding. Plus you get to travel. For sure some people treat you like dirt but to be honest I' ve been treated like that in every job I've had- at least in this one if I do get harassed by customers at the end of it I'm in New York or Bangkok. Can't say that about a retail or restaurant job! :)

Hi Emily I moved here to Dubai by myself in 2011 (from Australia). I understand you wanting to move here - I felt the same after I had visited. Unfortunately getting an admin job is not like what it is back in Aust. Your Australian experience will be woth more or less nothing here. Even for menial reception/admin assistant jobs the minimum requirements with be a bachelor degree with 2 years minimum experience in the region. You will be competing against Russians and other Europeans with masters degrees, who will usually work for less than you. You will usually need at least 2 languages, and will be competing with people with 3 or more. Being new to Dubai with no family here will be seen as a major draw-back. Emplying people is expensive, so they don't like to take chances on people who might change their minds and go home. The interview to employment process can take literally months. Its not like Australia where they interview you tomrrow and you start next week. Even after you get a job - it could be one, two three months before they need you to start. You need a load of cash to get by in the meantime. You would need to make visa runs every month in the meantime. NEVER come with a one way ticket. Always ensure you have some way to get home. You will find your money running out VERY quickly. Even if you manage to get an admin job - without a bachelor degree, plenty of local experience, or at least 2 or more languages - your wages would not be very high and you may not have the quality of life you would like (you will notice it more in Dubai than you would in Australia). Similar to what Amy said - often for women in admin jobs it becomes a case of being willing to do [i'>anything[/i'> in order to get a decent job with decent wage. Perhaps what you will find most difficult that if you are white an job searching - men will [i'>assume[/i'> you will do anything. You will get all sorts of creeps offering jobs etc in attempt to get into your pants (whether there is actually a job in reality or not). I know it sounds negative - but its very very very different to Australia and you should be aware about that before coming.

Thank you all for your response :) AmyAus82 - To answer your question I was born in Australia (sorry probably should have worded it better in my initial post) Your reply is very interesting, especially when you talk about education is valued over experience. As experience I have plenty as working hard to get what I want is all I know. However when it comes to education I completed High School but never went to UNI/College as I am and always have been a more hands on person. The Dubai I fell in love with was the hotels, the cars etc BUT I understand if I was to make the move I would be starting at the bottom in terms of work and lifestyle. Everyone has spoken about having a nice amount of cash to accompany me on my move whilst I hunt down a job. Obviously I knew money would be needed but how much approx are we talking? In terms of another country like the UK....... Well to be honest I have never looked outside of Dubai. Its always just been the one. Again, thank you for your response. You have raised many valid points which makes me think twice. I also don't have a degree but get a decent salary. About being born in Australia, i think what Amy means are your parents australian born too? If you have an australian passport but Indian name you will be treated as an indian (smaller salary and less opportunities). Sorry but it's the truth.

I hope op's not short!!!

True but they are recruiting for cabin crew like crazy atm... and looks like it'll be happening for awhile.

GIven your age and that you want to come to Dubai- have you at all considered working for a company like Emirates? Don't laugh ladies, at least then she could come out here having a job, accommodation and most major expenses paid for. On the off days you could study a course and get that education, then in a few years you'd have that all important degree and start the job hunt then. You'd also get the travel side of things without having to outlay a ridiculous amount of money. I won't lie it is nowhere near as glam as people would like you to think- BUT it pays the bills, is not the worst job I have had and you have some pretty darn amazing days at work going to new places. Lots of crew here study in their spare time and have gone on to other jobs/careers in Dubai. Maybe one of the ladies here has done the same. Coming here like this would also give you the chance to see the 'real' Dubai and if you actually like it as much in a year or two as you do now. <em>edited by SkyKitty on 03/01/2012</em>

Emily, Amy is being very honest and quite true in her advice. I like you have no university degree and am more hands on experience, I found it very hard to get a job when I arrived, it took me 18 months. However, I am much older than you and have been the Head of a department in a very niche financial services sector. It is hard to get a job here without local experience, my advice would be to try and get a job in Aus in Dubai if thats what you really want. Whatever you do, please dont buy a one way ticket, at least have an out if things get tough and you need to get home. Good luck with your decision.

Not sure you'd be allowed to stay indefinitely unless you do visa runs until you find a job as you only get 30 days as a tourist on arrival. I came out here solo almost 5 years ago but had made sure I had a signed contract and job commencing within a day of arrival. The company paid for shipping of personal effects up to $1500 and put me up in a hotel for 2 weeks and my ticket over here if I recall correctly. I would make solid contacts first as the job market isnt what it used to be and make sure you come cashed up as set up costs are quite high too. Not trying to rain in your parade but make sure you know as much as you can before you land jobless and without a decent stash of savings.

you have mail :)

let me know when you have the address and I'll remove it :)

I'd love to help! Good on you! My fiance and I made the jump solo too, and you can do it. We moved out here a year ago with no guarantees- after all, what do you have to lose? I'd love to chat. <em>edited by elle13211 on 03/01/2012</em>